Roller unit for window structures



Feb. 10, 1931. E. wlLKlNG ROLLER UNIT FOR w1 NDOW S TRUG TURE S vOriginal Filed Aug. 3. 1928 Patented t Feb. 1931 i :UNITED STATES lmxirzrrrFinca .EMILWrLKrNQ 0F cnroneo, vILLINOIS' AROLLER. UNIrFoR lvcr'INnoW STRUCTURES original applica/cimmed Augusta, 192s, seriaiNo. 297,366, Divided and this apbncanoamed september f Y @17,`193c. seriaiiraaszes.: Y l i The present inventienrelates generally to 'i Y vvide a roller unit ofthe character here underV roller unit-s for use in` connection with'wfinadow structures. More particularly, the. in l,

vention relates tol that type ofyunit- Vcomprises (l) fa spring-actuated roller Awhichv is adapted to be mounted on a Windovvfframe of'standard construction in close proximityv to one of the end or crossbars thereof, and (2) a fabric dust arresting screen which is Wound around and anchored tothe roller and is connected atvits outer or distal end ,to one of thevertically movable panels in the Y Window frame so that it willV be unwound automatically and Will bridge or close the ,Window opening vvhen the panel yis shifte into any `of its opened positions. v Y

One' objectof he inventionzis to provide a roller .unit of this type in Which the fabric screen is providedv at its inner end with an y elongated transversely extending 'metallic stay and is connected detachabl'yto the roller by means of latches which are-pivotally mounted on the ends of thespring-actuated roller and are shiftable into locked relation With the ends of the stay.

. Another object of thejinvention is to proconsideration in Which the stay at the inner end of the fabricscreen is provided alongone of the side margins'thereof With an :integral inwardly extending flangervvhich is adapted to interlock with a longitudinal groove inthe periphery of the roller and serves to holdthe stay against circumferential displacement with respect to the roller.

A further object of the invention is tol provide a roller unit for Window structures which is generally of new and improved construction and may bemanufactured at a comparatively lon7 cost by virtue of the fact that it `consists of but a comparatively small number of parts. f Other objects of the invention and the various advantagesand `characteristics of the present roller unit construction Will be apparent to those skilledin the art from a consideration of the following detailed description.. i' Y The invention consists in the several novel featuresi'whichare hereinafter set forth and .on :the vroller. A The 'rollerA unit theconclusion hereof. l

formsa part kof this specificationor disclosure v`andlin which like numerals of reference denote corresponding .parts"througliout the several views: v i Figure l` is a Yfrontelevationalview of a Window structure inwhich the -lower panel ,is` associated With a roller` unit embodying .the invention; Figure 2 isa fragmentary perspective of the fabric .screen and thejspringactuated roller, 'exhibiting indetail the manner in which therlatchesat the rends of the roller cooperate with the ends of the 'stay to secure the inner end. ofthescreen in connected're lation AWith ,the roller;

` lligure-B` is a perspectiveof the roller; ",Fig'ure 4 is a perspective of the stay which isjattached to the inner end of thefabric screenandjoperates in conjunction with the latches to connect the screen Ldetachably to rthe .rollerfgfV Eigure 5 lisv screenand e i v Figure is aside view of one of the latches perspective Vof the fabric t which formsthe subject 4matterv Vof thefinventi'on comprisesa flexible screen7 and aroller' andis designedprifmarily ,for use inrconnection With Ava Window structure W.l The latter, as illustrated in Fig'ureflof thedrawing, is ofthe type or 'character' that is generally employed and used in connection with buildings, `dwellings andlike establishments, and embodies an ini' vner panel a and an outer panel b. These panels are mounted in a rectangularframe Inthe drawing which accompanies andV transparent material and a rectangular sash or easement a2 inWhich theV pancia" is mounted and held inV place byy any. suitable sealing means. Y The sasha2 embodiesa bottom crossbar a3 and is guided by strips c on the side bars of the window frame so that it may be raised by vertical shift movement into any of its various open positions. The panel a is counterbalanced so that it will remain in place by meansiof a pair of weights a4 which are disposed'in compartment at the sides of the frame c and are connected to the upper corners of the sash by cables as. Handles a6 for use in raising and lowering the panel a are secured to the inner face of the bottom crossbar a3. The outer panel is similar in construction to the inner panel and is adapted normally to cover the upper half of the window opening. l

The roller S is locatedA in close proximity to the bottom crossbar of the window frame and has the flexible screen 7 wound therearound. The outer or distal end of the screen is detachably vconnected in any suitable manner to the crossbar a3 ofthe vsash a2 so that it will be unwound and will'bridge or close the window opening when the panel a is liftedv into any of its raised positions. rllhe screen 7 is preferably formed of loosely woven fabric and serves, when in its bridged or operative position, to arrest dust particles. Itis preferably of such width that the side margins thereof extend substantial'- ly to theside bars of the windowframe c. The roller 8 is substantially cylindrical in conformation and, as previously pointed out, is mounted in close proximity to the bottom bar of the windowframe c: It is Aslightly wider than the screen and is actuated or rotatedA by a helical spring'9 so that it automatically winds the screen thereon'when' the panel' a is lowered intoV its closedvposition. Brackets 10 and 11 serve to hold the'rollerin place. These brackets fit against the lower ends of the side bars of the window frame and are arranged so that the loweredges or niargins thereof abut against the bottom crossbar of said frame. Screwsor similar attaching devices (not shown) are utilizedto secure'the brackets in place; The bracket 10 vhas punched therein an inwardly projecting portion 12 having a circular opening (not shown) in which is journalled a pivot pin 13 at one end of the roller. This pin is fixed to the head 14 of a sheet metal cap 15. The latter embodies a cylindrical skirt 16 which forms a socket into which said one end of the roller-8 fits. Two or more screws 17 extend through the skirt and operate to hold'the cap securely in place. The other end of the spring-actuated roller 8 is provided with a sheet metal cap 19 which is similar in construction to the cap and comprises a head 20, and a cylindrical skirt 21. The cap is rigidly connected to the roller by screws 22 which extend through the skirt 21 and into the contiguous end of the roller. The actuating spring 9 is disposed in a longitudinal chamber 23 which is formed in the central portion of the roller. The spring extends throughout this chamber and the end thereof which is disposed adjacent to the cap 15 is suitably anchored. The other end of the spring is secured to the inner end of a polygonal lock bar 24;. This bar is rotatably mounted in the cap 19 and the outer end thereof is positioned in a slot (not shown) which is formed in an instruck portion 25 on the bracket 11. The aforesaid slot is shaped soas to hold the bar against rotation when it is in its operative position. By so arrangingthe bar it is manifest that any rotat-ionV of the roller 8 resulting from unwinding of the screen 7 causes the spring 9 to be placed under tension. lVhen the panel a. is raisedtheflexible screen 7 will be unwound from the-roller and will cause the latter to rotate ina direction whichresults in winding ofthe spring. When the panel is lowered the springcauses'rotation of the roller in the opposite direction and automatically winds the screen 'back in place. A characteristic and anadvantage of utilizing a screen and roller of this type is-that the ordinary wirescreen panel which obstruct's or interferes with clearL vision rthrough, theA Windows may be dispensed with.

The inner end of the screen 7 is secured or anchored to the roller 8 by an elongated metallic stay 2G. This stay is removably held in a hem 27 which is4 formed by doubling over the inner end of the-screenr and securing it in placebyV stitching 28. The ends of the stay 26 project outwardly beyond the ends of the'hem'to form tongues 29. These tongues overlap the vskirt portions of the sheet metal caps 15' and19 anfl are releasably held in place against radial displacement by a pair of latches which are p'ivotally connected to the. heads of said caps.v The latches are formedof sheet metal and each vcomprises a pivot member 31A and a latch member which extends at right angles to the pivot Vmember and overlies'the contiguous tongue 29. The members 32 of the'latclies have abutments or 'stops 33 at one end thereof. These stops `are adapted to engage the side edges of the tongues 29 so that the latches will not retate out of engagement with the tongues when' they are once shifted into place. The other ends of the latch members 32 are bent radially or outwardly to form fingers 34 for use in rotating the latches into their operative position. .The stay 26 is curved so as to vfit properly against the periphery of the roller 8 and one side margin thereof is bent downwardly so as to form aflange 35 which fits into a longitudinal groove 36 in the roller. This flange and groove form an interlocking connectionzbetween the stay and roller which prevents relative rotative movement. A characteristic and an advantage of utilizing the latches is that the stay is held in place so it may be readily released whenever it is desired y in such a manner-that the flange is interto remove the screen-from the roller for repair or replacement purposes.`

In assembling the screen with respect to the spring-actuated roller,the stay-26 is first inserted into the hem 27. Thereafter the stay is placed against the .periphery of the roller locked with vthe groove 36.v Upon placement of the stay against the roller, the latches are swung so that the members 32 overlie the tongues 29 on the ends of the stay and thusV loclr the stay relea'sably in place. ln swinging the latches into place, the stops 33 servef to prevent overthrow of the latches.

l/Jhen the screen becomes dirtyor needs to Vbe replaced, it is only necessaryto unwind the screen and then release the latches so as to tree the stay with respectto the roller.

The herein disclosedl roller unitis exceedingly simple as far as construction is concerned and may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost by virtue of the act'that 1t embodies brit asmall number of parts. By utilizingthe latches'as the instrumen- :f talitv whereby the stay ati-the inner end of the screen is held in place, provision is made for readily releasing the screen from the roller when desired. lf desired, the lunit may Vbe mounted adjacent the top crossbar of the ijs) all)

invention.

window frame and used with the outer panel b.

Whereas the unit has been described as aV dust arrester and as embodying a loosely woven flexible screen, it is to be understood that the unit may be usedtor other purposesY and that a shade may be employed instead l f. 297,366 patented Jan. is', 193i, No. 1,788,757.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to ,secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A unit for use in connection with a structure such as a window frame, comprising a spring-actuated roller for supporting therearound a flexible element, a stay attached to the inner end of the element and adapted to be placed longitudinally against the roller, and means for detachably connecting the inner end of the element to the roller, embodying a latch mounted movably on one end of the roller and shiftable into and out of locked relation with the contiguous end of the stay, Y

2. A unit for use in connectionwitli a structure such as a window frame, comprising a spring-actuated roller for supporting therearound a flexible element, a stay attached to the inner end of the element and 'adapted ist@ "pierced ioiigaudinaiiyagainst the roller, and kmeans for detachably connecting the* inner end of the element to the roller, embodying a latch mounted pivotally on one end ofthe roller and shiftabl'e'into n andoutof locked relation withthecontiguous. endlof theist'ay. i

A-unit'for use"infconnection with a structure such as a window frame, compris- Ving a Vspringactuated roller for supporting therearound a flexible element, a stay attached to the inner vrend of the element and adapted to be placed llongitudinally against` they rollen-meansfor connecting detachably salidhinner end ofthe .elementto thev roller, embodying latch y connectedpivotally to out Iot locked relation with the contiguous end of the vvstay, 4and means for preventing voverthrow,*of the latch when it isshifted into itslockedposition.-

A unit for Vuse, inconnection with a structuresuch as a windowframe, comprisoneend fof the roller andshiftable yinto and ing a spring actuated-rollerfor supporting i' therearound a flexible element, a stayjattached to the innerendof the element and.

adapted to be Vplaced longitudinallyV against the roller, means for connecting detachably said inner end of the element tothe roller, embodying, a latchconnected pivotally` to one end ofthe roller'an'd shiftable into and out'of locked relation with the contiguous endof the stay, andmeans connected to the latch for preventing` overthrow of the `latter when-it is shifted into its locked position.

5; A unit forl use' in connection with` a structure such as a window frame, comprising a` spring-actuated roller for supporting therear'ound a flexible element, a stay.l attached to the inner end of the element and adapted'to be placed longitudinally against the roller, means for connecting detachably said inner end of the element to the roller, embodying a latch connected pivotally .to

one'end of the roller and shi-ftable into and.

ly with the latch and arranged to strike against the aforesaid endet the stay and prevent overthrow of the latch when the latter is shifted into its locked position.

6. A unit for use in connection with a structure such as a window frame, comprising a spring-actuated roll-er having a longitudinally extending groove in the periphery thereof andV adapted to support therearound a flexible element, a stay attached to the inner end of the element and provided along one 'of its side margins with a laterally projecting flange, said stay being adapted to be placed longitudinally against the roller with the flange in the groove, and means for detachably connecting said inner end of the element to the roller, embodying a latchmember mounted movably on the roller and izo,

shiftable into and out of locked relation -With the stay. i

7. A unit for use in connection With a structure such as a Window frame, comprising a spring-actuated roller for supporting therearound a flexible element, a stay attached to the inner end of the element and adapted to he placed longitudinally against the roller7 and latches for detachably'connecting the inner end of the element to the roller, mounted movably on the ends of said.

roller and shiftable into and out of locked relation with the ends of the stay.

8. A unit for use in connection With a structure such as a Window frame, comprising a spring-actuated roller for supporting therearound a flexible element, a stay attached to the inner end of the elementand adapted to be placed longitudinally against the roller, and latches for detaohably *conneeting the inner end of the element to Ythe roller, mounted pivotally on the ends or" said roller and shiftable into Vand outv of locked relation With the ends of the stay.

9. A unit for use in connection with a structure such as a Winden7 frame, comprising a spring-actuated roller for supporting therearound a flexible element, caps at the ends of the roller having formed therein :sockets in which the roller ends fit, a stay attached to the inner end of the element and adapted to be placed longitudinally against the roller, and means for detaehably connecting said inner end of the element to the. roller, embodyingmembers formed Separate- 1y from and mounted movably on the caps and adapted to cooperate With the ends Of the stay.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 13th day of September, 1930.

EMIL VVILK Il\TC;`r.n 

